Asheville vs Joliet
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Asheville
Joliet
The Verdict
Living in Joliet costs 13.7% less than Asheville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $65,972 in Joliet.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Asheville has the same purchasing power as $65,972 in Joliet.
Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $85,263 in Asheville.
Living in Asheville vs Joliet
Housing Costs
Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $275,000. The $85,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,520 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Asheville compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $480/month in Joliet. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Asheville and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 102 in Joliet. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $48,534 in Asheville and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $92,632 respectively. Joliet residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,132/month to housing in Asheville vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Joliet, median rent of $1,325/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 35 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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